The Transfer Tavern

West Ham fans take to Twitter to remember Payet’s Old Trafford free-kick

Three years ago yesterday, West Ham fans witnessed possibly the best goal that a Hammer has ever scored at Old Trafford. The Irons travelled to face Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals and managed a 1-1 draw thanks to a moment of sheer brilliance from their magic Frenchman Dimitri Payet.

That season was West Ham’s Payet season. The Frenchman was one of the best players in the Premier League during the campaign, with a number of flashy goals and assists in claret and blue. Whilst his career as a Hammer ended in bitter disappointment, the fans aren’t letting the way Payet left the club change their perception of some of his truly fantastic goals, especially not this one given the absolite magic of it.

With the game looking like it could go to the wire at Old Trafford, the Hammers won a free-kick about 30 yards away from goal. For the home fans, it was something they’d seen hundreds of times without conceding, but Payet did what he does best as he whipped the ball into the top corner to send the away fans into raptures. It was a moment that will go down in West Ham history, and despite the Irons’ hate for Payet, they all absolutely adore seeing replays of this goal.